Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued a sweeping series of personnel announcements Friday, tapping more than two dozen individuals to fill seats on high-profile state boards ranging from gambling regulation to university oversight.
The most significant shake-up comes at the Florida Gaming Control Commission, where the Governor has elevated Julie Brown to the position of Chair.
Brown, who holds a law degree from the University of Florida, was already serving as Vice Chair and previously led the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
Joining Brown on the commission are two new appointees: Peter Cuderman, a founding partner at the private equity firm Fidelis Fund and a Marine Corps veteran, and William Spicola, a local attorney involved with the Judicial Nominating Commission.
The Governor also reappointed John Michael D’Aquila, a CPA, and Tina Repp, a former FBI Special Agent currently working in healthcare fraud investigation.
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University Leadership Updates
The Governor also turned his attention to higher education, specifically Florida A&M University (FAMU) and the University of West Florida (UWF).
At FAMU, four seats were filled. New to the Board of Trustees are Roderick Harris, a Director at the Department of Juvenile Justice, and Kenneth Jones, the CEO of HCA Florida Northwest Hospital. Both men are FAMU alumni. They join reappointed trustees Natlie Figgers, a local attorney, and Michael White, an executive at Indelible Solutions.
In the Panhandle, the University of West Florida Board of Trustees sees the addition of Kevin Mason, CEO of Acentria Insurance. DeSantis also reappointed Paul Bailey, an attorney and adjunct professor at Pensacola Christian College.
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Volunteer Florida Roster Filled
The largest block of appointments went to the Florida Commission on Community Service, better known as Volunteer Florida. Fourteen individuals were named to the commission, blending public sector officials with private sector leaders.
Notable among the appointments is Dave Kerner, the Executive Director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and a former Palm Beach County Mayor. He is joined by Kez McCorvey, the Director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and a familiar name to Florida State University football fans.
The extensive list of Volunteer Florida appointments also includes:
- Lynette Cardoch: Vice President at Moffatt & Nichol.
- Ashley Dietz: President/CEO of the Florida Philanthropic Network.
- Michael Flury: Associate General Counsel at FSU.
- Jason Puwalski: Senior Legislative Analyst for the Department of Corrections.
- Katrina Tuggerson: President of the Capital City Chamber of Commerce.
Several current members were reappointed, including Chair Autumn Karlinsky, lobbyist Christy Brodeur, and Titus Sports Academy CEO Adam Faurot.
All appointments announced today are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
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